Ivan Khong’s Journey From Weak Student To E-commerce Entrepreneur

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) — Once dismissed as a weak student, SCE Distributor Sdn Bhd founder Ivan Khong has built a career in refurbished computers and live online sales, earning recognition as the only refurbished computer seller to secure “mall” status on social media.

Khong, 29, who is also known as Boss A, said his path was shaped by both successes and setbacks, including a RM1 million loss at the age of 24 after the COVID-19 computer sales boom.

“Yes, I lost RM1 million. But I didn’t quit. I saw failure as just another lesson,” he told Bernama.

Raised in a modest family, Khong recalled being unable to afford a computer during his school years. Instead, he relied on secondhand units and gradually picked up repair skills, learning to troubleshoot problems and format operating systems on his own by the age of 12.

Khong did not pursue tertiary education after completing his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. Instead, he worked as an ASUS service centre technician, which gave him exposure to technical repairs and customer service. He was then earning RM1,500 a month.

He later began selling secondhand and refurbished computers via online platforms such as Mudah.my. He eventually decided to focus fully on the refurbished segment, where he saw stronger demand and margins.

Demand for computers surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the age of 24, Khong had chalked up RM1 million in sales. However, poor financial decisions resulted in him losing it all. He was down but not out. 

He returned to business in 2022 when he and his wife started livestreaming and selling refurbished computers via the TikTok Shop. SCE Distributor distinguished itself from other sellers by prioritising branding and customer assurance.

“Our laptops might cost slightly more than others, but we have a guarantee on quality. Every unit comes with a technician’s QC report. If something goes wrong, we will do a tracing process to rectify the issue,” Khong said.

This focus on accountability and packaging helped SCE Distributor to become Malaysia’s only refurbished computer seller to be granted TikTok Mall status, a recognition given to verified and trusted brands on the platform.

Beyond looking after the business, Khong is committed to giving back to the community. His company has donated more than 100 computers to schools and underprivileged students. He also launched the “4 Loves Programme” — Love Yourself, Love Family, Love School, Love Nation — which he said serves as a personal and professional guide.

“If you don’t love yourself by taking care of your health and knowledge, how can you love your family? Without schools, who would we be today? And without a nation, we are nobody. That’s my principle,” he said.

Khong hopes his story will encourage young people facing challenges in school or business not to give up on themselves. Resilience and being able to persevere are important traits.

“There is a fire inside every one of us. The key is not to fear failure. If you have a dream, chase it until it becomes a reality,” he said.

— BERNAMA

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